Artificial respiration apparatus



Sept- 11, 1956 'r. c. HUXLEY m, ETAL 2,762,366

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS THOMAS C. HUXLEY, .ZZZ

I/PW/VG EC'KM/I/V BY 2 m AT TORN E Y5 p 11, 1956 1-. c. HUXLEY m, ETAL ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION APPARATUS Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1954 INVENTORS THOMAS C. HUXLEK HZ BY RV/NG ECKMAN MM h ATTORNEYS United States Patent ARTIFICIAL R-ESPlRA'l'ION APPARATUS Thomas C. Huxley HI, Manhasset, and Irving Eckman, New York, N. Y., assignors to Conitech, Ltd., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1954, Serial No. 478,324 12 Claims. (Cl. 128-30) This invention relates generally to improvements in artificial respiration apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in artificial respiration apparatus of the portable type which is adapted to fit over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region.

The primary aim and object of the present invention is the provision of an improved portable type respirator, in the form of an abdominal belt, which is adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation and which has a casing which is fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, said casing being adapted to have the air pressure therein rhythmically varied for inducing artificial respiration.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of an arrangement for rigidifying the casing of the abdominal belt of the above character whereby the pressure of inflation of the casing will be applied to the patients abdominal region.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of generally improved artificial respiration apparatus which is light in weight, easy to apply to the patient, and physically comfortable to the patient.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully undestood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode now contemplated by us for carrying out our invention:

Fig. l is a front view of an abdominal belt, formed according to the present invention, shown in position on a patient and operatively associated with respirator pumping apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the abdominal belt shown in position on a patient with parts broken away to reveal structural details;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenon the line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the interconnection between the abdominal belt fitting and the conduit of the respirator pumping apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the abdominal belt shown in the flat;

Fig. 6 is a partial rear view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof there is shown an abdominal belt 10 for producing artificial respiration in body encircling relation on the patient P, said abdominal belt being adapted to be operatively associated with the respirator pumping apparatus 12 for rhythmically varying the air pressure applied to the abdominal belt. As will be described -in detail hereinafter, the abdominal belt respirator ltl, which is adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation, comprises an inflatable casing 14 which is adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of 2,762,366 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 ice 2 the patients abdominal region, said casing being adapted to have the air pressure therein rhythmically varied by means of the air pump disposed in the pumping apparatus 12 for inducing artificial respiration.

The casing 14 of the respirator 10 is formed of a flexible fabric material, for example, a suitable textile fabric, and has a front panel 16 which terminates in the rear panel sections 18 and 20, said casing being adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling arrangement with the front panel 16 fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region. The front panel 16 is of elongated configuration and narrows at the end portions thereof in the region of the rear panel sections 18 and 20. As will be readily apparent the front panel and rear panel sections may be formed of a single piece of suitable flexible fabric material or may be formed by suitably integrating a plurality of fabric segments. In order to impart the requisite configuration to the respirator 10 the rear panel sections 18 and 20, at the inner end portions thereof, are angularly folded over or pleated with respect to the front panel 16 as indicated at 22, said inner end portions being permanently retained in such folded over or pleated condition in any suitable manner, for example by means of the lines of stitching 24. It will thus be seen that the rear panel sections 18 and 20 are angularly inclined upwardly with respect to the front panel 16 in order to impart to the respirator 10 the desired configuration for encircling the body of the patient with the front panel 16 fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 6, there is secured to the front panel 16 in superposed relation therewith, a fabric retainer panel 26, there being defined between said retainer panel and said front panel a pocket 28 for the reception of the inflatable bladder 30., The panel 26 may be formed of any suitable flexible material, for example, a suitable textile fabric and said panel is of an elongated generally elliptical configuration corresponding to the elliptical configuration of the bladder 30. The fabric panels 16 and 26 are thus secured to each other so as to define pocket 28 which is of a size and configuration to accommodate the inflatable bladder 30. The panel 26 has a peripherally extendingfinishing strip 32 secured thereto in any desired manner, for example by means of the lines of stitching 34. The opposite longitudinal edges 36 of the panel 26, defined by the strip 32, are secured to the rear face of the panel 16 in any suitable manner, as by means of the lines of stitching 38 and the end edges 40 of the panel 26 are left unsecured to the panel 16 so as to leave openings for the extension therethrough of the end portions 42 of the bladder 30. Thus the rear panel 26 terminates at the arcuate end edges 40 which are left unsecured to the front panel 16 so as to leave openings for the extension therethrough of the end portions 42 of the bladder. Access to the pocket 28 is obtained through the longitudinal opening 44 which is defined by the free longitudinal edges 46 and 48 of the panel 26, it being noted that said free longitudinal edges are defined by the finishing and reinforcing strips 50 which are secured to free edge portions of said panel by means of the lines of stitching 52. Thus the fabric panel 26 is provided with an opening 44 which extends substantially from the point 54 to the point 56, said opening being adapted for the reception of the bladder 30 therethrough whereby to provide for the facile insertion of said bladder in the pocket 28. From the above it will be apparent that the fabric panel 26 comprises essentially two similar panel sections 26 which are secured to the front panel 16 at an outer longitudinal edge 36, said segments being interconnected to each other at their opposite ends at the regions 58.

The bladder 30, which may be formed of any suitable flexible fluid impervious material, for example rubber, plastic and the like, comprises a pair of elliptically shaped opposite walls 60 and 62 which are interconnected to each other by means of the folds or pleats 64, it being understood that said bladder defines an air chamber 66 which is adapted for fluid communication with the apparatus 12 in the manner to. be; described in detail hereinafter. The bladder will assume a compact flattened configuration in the deflated condition thereof as shown in Fig. 3 and the inflation of said bladder, as shown in Fig. 2, will be eflective to expand the casing 14 with the pressure of inflation being applied to the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region so as to induce artificial respiration. In practice, the bladder 31) is detachably mounted in the pocket 28 of the casing14 by passing the bladder through the longitudinal opening 44 of the panel 26, the end portions 42 of said bladder being adapted to extend beyond the'edges 40 of said panel as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Thus the bladder 30 will be retained in position relative to the casing 14 by means of the fabric panel 26 which constitutes a retainer member.

' integrally formed with the bladder 30 is a fitting 68 which defines a fluid passage 79, said fitting extending through the opening 72 provided in the front panel 16 of the casing. The opening 72, which is of circular outline corresponding to the configuration of the fitting 68, is defined by the annular reinforcing strip 74 which is secured to the front panel 16 by means of the circular line of stitching 76. The fitting 68 terminates in a curledover end portion 78 and said fitting is adapted for fluid communication with theapparatus 12 for rythmically varying the air pressure in the air chamber 66 of the bladder 30. v

The rear panel section 18 is provided with a plurality of straps 80 which are secured thereto in any suitable manner, for example by means of lines of stitching 82, and the rear panel section 20 is provided with a plurality of complementary buckles 84 which are secured thereto by means of stitching 83, said straps being adapted for interengagement with the buckles for releasably and adjustably securing the casing 14 in body encircling relation on the patient. Thus the straps and buckles 80 and 84. respectively, constitute means for adjustably and releasably securing the rear panel sections 18 and 20 to each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure the front panel 16 adjacent the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region. The belt respira tor 10 is also provided with a pair of straps 86 which are adapted to pass under the patients groin from the front panel 16 to the rear panel sections 18 and 20, respectively, for aiding the retention of said front panel in position on the patient during the inflation of the bladder. More particularly, the front panel 16 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced buttons 88 and one end of each of the straps 86 is provided with a button hole 90 which is adapted for the reception therethrough of a companion button 88 to provide for the releasable fastening of said straps to the front panel. The free end 92 of each of the straps 86 is adapted to be releasably and adjustably engaged with a companion buckle 94, there being provided one of such buckles secured to each of the rear panel sections 18 and 20. In practice, the straps 86 are secured to the front panel 16 by means of the buttons and button holes 88 and 90, respectively, and the free ends 92 of said straps are passed under the: patients groin and are interengaged with the buckles 94 to provide for the secure fastening of the casing 14 to the patient. It will be noted that the opposite side edges of the front panel 16 and rear panel sections 18 and 20 have secured thereto, by means of stitching 98, reinforcing and finishing strips 96.

In order to rigidify the casing 14 so that the pressure of inflation of the bladder 30'will be applied to the patients abdominal region, there is provided a plurality of companion pairs of stiflener members or stays which are disposedin the complementary laterally adjacent pockets 102 defined by the superposed strips of material 104 which are secured to the front face of the panels 16, 18 and 20 in any suitable manner, for example by means of the lines of stitching 196. Thus the superposed strips of material 1&4 are stitched to the front face of the casing 14 by lines of stitching 166 so as to define a pair of laterally adjacent pockets N2 which are adapted for the reception of companion longitudinally extending transversely disposed stiffener members or stays 100, the latter being formed of any suitable spring material so as to impart to the casing the requisite degree of rigidity. The centrally disposed pair of stays 10d of the panel 16 are substantially vertically disposed whereas all of the other pairs of stays are transversely disposed on the panels in an inclined disposition, it being apparent that any desired number of stays 100 may be utilized in any desired spacing arrangement whereby to impart to the casing 14 the desired degree of rigidity so that the pressure of inflation of the bladder 30 will be applied to the patients abdominal region to induce artificial respiration. It will be noted that the lines of stitching 98, which secure the strips 96 to the panels, extend through the strips of material 104, as best shown in Fig. 3

The fitting 68 is adapted for the reception of the complementary fitting 110, as shown in Fig. l and as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 7, and said fitting terminates in an enlarged conduit part 112 which is adapted to be releasably interengaged with one end of the adapter 114. The part 112 is adapted to inteifit with the adapter 114 in fluid sealing relation therewith and said part is provided with a stop ring 116 for limiting the movement of the adapter on said part in an interengaging direction. The conduit part 112 is also provided with a snap ring 118 to provide a firm releasable interengagement between said conduit part and the adapter 114. Thus, in practice, the adapter 114 is interengaged with the conduit part 112 with the end portion 119 of said adapter being in abutting relation with the stop ring 116, the opposite end of said adapter being releasably engaged with one end of the flexible conduit 120 which is operatively associated with the apparatus 12. Accordingly the adapter 114 is releasably engaged with the conduit 120 and the fitting 110 to provide a fluid passage between the pumping chamber of the air pump of apparatus 12 and the fluid chamber 66 of the bladder 30. Secured to the adapter 114, substantially centrally thereof in any suitable manner, is a conduit 122 which is adapted to be interconnected in fluid flow relation with a companion pressure transmitting conduit in the manner fully illustrated and described in the copending application of Thomas C. Huxley Ill and Nelson G. Kling, Ser. No. 362,316, filed June 17, 1953, for Artificial Respiration Apparatus and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The respirator pumping apparatus 12 may be of any suitable design and construction, for example the type shown and described in my copending application, Ser. No. 295,181, filed June 24, 1952, for Respirator Pumping Apparatus, which is assigned to the assignee herein.

The air pump, which is housed in the respirator pumping apparatus 12, will be in fluid communication with the bladder .30 and said air pump is operable to rhythmically induce a flow of air to and from said bladder. Thus pumping apparatus 12 of any suitable type when operatively associated with the abdominal belt respirator 10 rhythmically varies the pressure within the bladder of said respirator between an inflated and deflated condition at a controlled and variable rate to successfully simulate normal respiration. It will be understood that the apparatus 12 has means integrated therewith for controlling the amount of negative pressure or suction applied to the bladder and for controlling the amount of positive pressure applied to said bladder whereby to control the inflation and deflation of the same. Thus when positive pressure is applied to the air chamber 66 of the bladder 30 the opposite walls 60 and 62 of said bladder will be expanded as shown in Fig. 2 to apply the pressure of expansion to the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region to thereby induce artificial respiration. It will be understood that the air pump housed in the apparatus 12 will be effective to rhythmically inflate and deflate the bladder 30 whereby to rhythmically expand and contract the casing 14, respectively. As previously noted, the degree of inflation and deflation and the rate of alternations between such inflation and deflation may be controlled at the apparatus 12, in the manner described in detail in the aforereferred to copending application, Ser. No. 295,181.

The abdominal belt respirator facilitates breathing of the patient by applying pressure in the abdominal region during the period when the bladder is inflated and. the pressure of inflation against the abdomen results in the lifting of the patients diaphragm which takes place during the expiration phase of the induced artificial respiration cycle. When the bladder is deflated the diaphragm is correspondingly lowered to permit air to enter the lungs and this occurs in the inspirational phase of the artificial respiration cycle. The diaphragm is constituted by a movable sheath and when the diaphragm is lowered the thoracic space increases so as to permit air to enter the lungs, this occurring in the inspirational phase of the respiration cycle. Similarly, when the diaphragm is raised the thoracic space is decreased and causes air to discharge from the lungs, this occurring during the expirational phase of the respiration cycle. The amount of excursion of the diaphragm will determine to a degree the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs and the greater the amount of excursion the greater will be the air exchange. It will be apparent that if a patient has paralyzed abdominal muscles he will be unable to expand and contract the abdominal space and so cannot control the movement of his diaphragm and in such case the respirator 10 can aid the patient in breathing in the manner described above. Thus by rhythmically inflating the bladder 30 of the respirator 10 the patients abdomen is rhythmically acted upon so as to contract the abdominal space and raise the diaphragm to effect expiration. With the release of the inflation pressure the diaphragm is permitted to assume the inspiratory position. The front panel 16 is of a width to extend substantially from the region of the lowest rib to the region of the pubic crest of the patient.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for producing artificial respiration, comprising a flexible fabric casing adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, means for releasably securing said casing about the body of the patient in said position, said casing having a longitudinally extending pocket, and a fluid-tight bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for the passage of fluid into and out of the bladder for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said casing, respectively, when said casing is secured about the body of the patient in said position.

2. Apparatus for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, said casing comprising a flexible fabric panel having a retainer member secured thereto in superposed relation therewith to define a longitudinally extending pocket, a fluid impervious longitudinally extending bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for the passage of fluid into and out of the bladder for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said casing, respectively, and means for releasably 6 securing said casing about the body of the patient in said position.

3. Apparatus for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region and to be secured about the body of the patient in said position, and a fluid-tight bladder carried by said casing and adapted to be rhythmically inflated and deflated through a bladder opening whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said casing, respectively, at the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region when said casing is secured in said position, and a pair of straps adapted to pass under the patients groin and releasably secured to said casing for aiding the retention of the latter in position during the inflation of said bladder. V

4. An abdominal belt for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing formed of flexible fabric material and having a front panel and rear panel sections, said casing being adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation with said front panel fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, a fabric panel secured to said front panel in superposed relation therewith to define a pocket and a fluid impervious bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for the passage of fluid into and out of the bladder for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said front panel, respectively, and means for releasably securing said rear panel sections to each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure said front panel in said position.

5. An abdominal belt for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing formed of flexible fabric material and having a front panel and rear panel sections, said casing being adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation with said front panel fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, a fabric panel secured to said front panel in superposed relation therewith to define a pocket, and a fluid-impervious bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for the passage of fluid into and out of the bladder for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said front panel, respectively, said pocket and said bladder being of elongated complementary configuration and said pocket having access means whereby to provide for the releasable securement of said bladder therein, and means for releasably securing said rear panel sections to each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure.

said front panel in said position.

6. An abdominal belt for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing formed of flexible fabric material and having a front panel and rear panel sections, said casing being adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation with said front panel fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal re gion, a fabric panel secured to said front panel in superposed relation therewith to define a pocket, and a fluidimpervious bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for the passage of fluid into and out of the bladder for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said front panel, respectively, said pocket and said bladder being of elongated complementary configuration and said pocket having access means whereby to provide for the releasable securement of said bladder therein, and means for releasably securing said rear panel sections to each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure said front panel in said position, and a pair of straps adapted to pass under the patients groin from said front panel to said rear panel sections, respectively, for aiding the retention of said front panel in position during the inflation thereof.

7. An abdominal belt for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing formed of flexible fabric material and having a front panel and rear panel sections, said casing being adap ed to e i posed on the pati n in y encircling relation with said front panel fitted over the frontal'portion of the patients abdominal region, a fabric panel secured to said front panel in superposed relation therewith to define a pocket, and a fluid-impervious bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for the passage of fluid into and out of the bladder for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and Contract said front panel, respectively, said bladder having a projecting fitting defining said opening and said front panel having an opening adapted for the reception therethrough of said fitting and means for releasably securing said rear panel sec tions to. each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure said front panel in said position.

8. Apparatus for producing artificial respiration, comprising an inflatable casing formed of flexible fabric material and adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, said casing being adapted to be rhythmically inflated and deflated for inducing artificia'l respiration, means for rigidifying said casing whereby the pressure of inflation of the latter will be applied to the patients abdominal region, and means for securing said casing in body encircling position on the patient with said casing fitting over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region.

9. Apparatus for producing artificial respiration, comprising an inflatable casing formed of flexible fabric material and adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, said casing being adapted to be rhythmically inflated and deflated for inducing artificial respiration, means for rigidifying said casing whereby the pressure of inflation of the latter will be applied to the patients abdominal region, and means for securing said casing in body encircling position on the patient with said casing fitting over the frontal portion ofthe patients abdominal region, said rigidifying means comprising a plurality of transversely disposed longitudinally extending stiffener members disposed in complementary pockets provided in said casing.

10, An abdominal belt for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing formed of flexible fabric material and having a front panel and rear panel sections, said casing being adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation with said front panel fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, a fabric panel secured to said front panel in superposed relation therewith to define a pocket, and a fluid-impervious bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening for l 8 v h pa f fluid into and out of e bladder f rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said front panel, respectively, said front panel being adapted to extend from the region of the lowest rib to the region of the pubic crest of the patient and having transversely disposed stiffener members for rigidifying said front panel whereby the pressure of inflation of said bladder will be applied to the patients abdominal region, and means for releasably securing said rear panel sections to each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure said front panel in said position.

11. In combination with an air pump operable. for

. rhythmically inducing a flow of air to and from an ab-,

dominal belt, an abdominal belt for producing artificial respiration, comprising a casing formed of flexible fabric material and having a front panel and rear panel sections, said casing being adapted to be disposed on the patient in body encircling relation with said front panel fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region; a fabric panel secured to said front panel in superposed relation therewith to define a pocket, and a fluid-impervious bladder positioned in said pocket and having an opening in fluid flow relation with said air pump for rhythmically inflating and deflating said bladder whereby to rhythmically expand and contract said front panel, respectively, and means for releasably securing said rear panel sections to each other in body encircling relation whereby to releasably secure said front panel in said position.

12. Apparatus for producing artificial respiration, com! prising an inflatable casing formed of flexible fabric material and adapted to be fitted over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, said casing being adapted to be rhythmically inflated and deflated for inducing artificial respiration, means for rigidifying said casing whereby the pressure of inflation of the latter will be applied to the patients abdominal region, means for securing said casing in body encircling position on the patient with said casing fitting over the frontal portion of the patients abdominal region, and an air pump in fluid communication with said casing for rhythmically inflating and de flating the latter. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,163 Engstrom Jan. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 762,285 France Ian. 18, 1934 

